Method and composition for treating fibrous material



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UNITED STATES PATENT- OF WILLIAIC. GEEK AND JOHN B. DICKSON GOODBICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF HEW YORK.

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No Drawing.

To all whom it my camera:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM C. Gum

, a certain new and useful Methodand Composition for Treating Fibrous Material, of which the following is a'specification. This invention relates to methods and com ositions for treating fibrous materials, particularly leather, for the pur ose of rendering them impervious to fluids, the 1nvention being especiall valuable'in the impregnation ofleather or shoe soles.

Its chief objects are to provide an im- I proved method and an improved composition adapted to impregnate'fibrous material so as to render it impervious to fluids, without unduly impairing its flexibility and without rendering the material greasy or sticky.

Our invention comprises treating the fibrous material with a composition formedof parafiin, rosin and rubber, preferably with a softening agent such as castor 01 Coloring ingredientsmay be added if desired.

In practicing our invention in its preferred form, the procedure is asfollows'z Equal parts by weight of parafiin and rosin are melted together, heated to about 90 C'., thoroughly mixed, and the rosin therein oxidized; as by blowing air or oxygen through the mixture or by treating the same with a non-gaseous ox1dizing agent, such as nitric acid. The oxidation causes a precipitate to form in the molten mixture and the oxidation is preferably continued until such precipitation is substantially complete. The molten, supernatant liquid is then decanted or otherwise freed of the precipitate, the latter being rejected, and in parts by weight of said molten liquid is dissolved 10 parts of thoroughly masticated crude rubber, as by stirring the rubber in small particles in the molten mass or masticating it in the presence of the molten liquid. A softener is preferably addedto the mixture, either before, after, or during the addition of the-rubber, and 5 parts by weight of 'castor oil has been found suitable as a softener for the materials mixed according to the recipe just given. Theresultin roduct may then be allowed to cool, soli ii -ying to a wax-like condition in which it may be conveniently handled and shipped, and it Application 'fllc'd November 21, 1922. Sei'lal No. 802,45

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may again be brought to a molten condii tion for use in treating the fibrous material.

The material may be impregnated by simply dipping it or allowin molten mass of the waxike" substance obtained as above describedyfor a suitable I because higher temperatures may harmfully affect the leather.

The impregnating substance produced as above described is substantially colorless and" when introduced to the chrome leather, as described, intensifies the reenish tinge of the chrome leather and dar ens it. The subbe dyed, however, with any suitable oil e. If the appearance of oak tanned leat er is desired, for example, about g per cent of mahogany oil brown may be' added to the impregnating substance de scribed. The coloring matter may be added at any stage of the process above described, but it is preferably mixed in after the other ingredients have been incorporated inor it to stand in a length of time to become more or less sat der that the coloring matter may be subjected as little as possible to high temperaatures, although this obviously depends upon the character of'the coloring matter as to its reslstance to change by heat.

The process is adapted for economical and rapid operation, since the ingredients are inexpensive, and highly specialized machin-l ery is not required. Fibrous materials impregnated with the substance are highly impervious to fluids, and an improved waterproof leather, for example, may be obtained, its flexibility. being to a large extentpreserved, and objectionable properties such as stickiness or greasiness being avoided.

We claim: 1. The method of impregnating fibrous material which comprises dissolving rubber in an oxidized, molten mixture of paraflin and rosin and treating the fibrous material with the resulting product.

2. The method of impregnating leather which comprises treating the leather with a molten mixture of parafiin, rosin, rubber and a softener, the parafiin and rosin being first mixed together and the mixture treated with 4 en state and dissolving rubber therein.

4. The method of produoinga composition of matter which comprises mixing paraffin and rosin, subjecting the mixture to heat and treating it with an oxidizing agent, maintaining the resulting product in a molten state and dissolving rubber therein and introducing castor oil as a softener for the product.

5. A composition of matter comprising a solution of rubber in a mixture of paraffin and oxidized rosin.

6. A composition of matter resulting from mixing paratlin and rosin, treating the mixture in a molten state with an oxidizing agent, dissolving. rubber in the resulting product, and adding a coloring material to the rubber solution.

7. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of paraffin, oxidized rosin, rubber, and castor oil.

'8. Leather impregnated with a mixture comprising paraffin, oxidized rosin and rubber.

9. Leather impregnated with castor oil in association with a solution of rubber in a mixture of paraflin and oxidized rosin.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 18 day of November, 1922.

- WILLIAM C. GEER.

JOHN B. DICKSON' 

